Electrically conducting foodstuff coated with composition of matter consisting essentially of gel and ionized species

Abstract

Described is an edible electrically high conducting food substance capable of being heated by means of the application thereto of electrical energy having: A. Substantially diametrically opposite ends; B. At least one substantially solid surface; C. At least two electrical contacts located at said substantially diametrically opposite ends of said food substance and in contact with said substantially solid surface; and D. At least a substantial portion of said substantially solid surface having in intimate contact/therewith, and as an integral portion thereof a composition consisting essentially of: I. A gel; and Ii. A substantially ionized species Said composition also being positioned to make intimate contact between the electrically high conducting food substance and the electrical contacts whereby the contact is rendered non-arcing when an electromotive force is applied to said electrical contact. The genus of compositions comprising the gel and the substantially ionized species is described in detail.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electrically high conducting food substance comprising: a. Substantially diametrically opposite high conducting ends;   b. Each end having a substantially solid surface;   c. At least two electrical contacts located at said substantially diametrically opposite ends of said food substance and in contact with each of said substantially solid surfaces; and   d. At least a substantial portion of each of said substantially solid surfaces having in intimate contact therewith and as an integral part of each of said solid surfaces a composition forming a continuous phase and consisting essentially of: i. A gel selected from the group consisting of agar, xanthan gum, tragacanth, guar gum, gum arabic and algin gum; and   ii. An edible non-toxic substantially ionized species selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, potassium chloride, ammonium chloride, magnesium chloride, sodium glutamate, potassium glutamate, sodium alginate, potassium alginate, ammonium alginate, magnesium alginate, calcium alginate, sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, and calcium bicarbonate wherein the weight ratio of gel to substantially ionized species is from about 1:20 up to about 20:1, said composition also being positioned to make full intimate contact between the electrically high conducting food substances and the electrical contacts whereby the contact is rendered non-arcing when an electromotive force is applied to said electrical contacts, the ratio of the surface area of said food substance coated with said composition of gel and substantially ionized species to the surface area of said food substance not coated with said composition being in the range of from 1:50 up to 1:4.       
     
     
       2. The electrically high conducting food substance of claim 1 wherein the food substance is a frankfurter. 
     
     
       3. The electrically high conducting food substance of claim 1 wherein the food substance is a hamburger. 
     
     
       4. The electrically high conducting food substance of claim 1 wherein the gel is aqueous agar and the substantially ionized species is sodium chloride. 
     
     
       5. The electrically high conducting food substance of claim 4 wherein the food substance is a frankfurter. 
     
     
       6. The electrically high conducting food substance of claim 4 wherein the food substance is a hamburger. 
     
     
       7. The electrically high conducting food substance of claim 1 wherein the gel is tragacanth and the substantially ionized species is sodium chloride. 
     
     
       8. The electrically high conducting food substance of claim 7 wherein the food substance is a frankfurter. 
     
     
       9. The electrically high conducting food substance of claim 7 wherein the food substance is a hamburger.